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In the world of high-stakes investing, the "next big thing" may look less like a chatbot and more like a Labubu (9992.HK) doll.

"It really is just supply and demand," Josh Luber, co-founder of StockX and founder of Ghostwrite, told Yahoo Finance Executive Editor Brian Sozzi on the Opening Bid Unfiltered podcast (see the video above; listen below). "The demand half of the equation works when you hit that intersection of culture and commerce."

The gamification of commerce is the second-most-disruptive economic force in the world today, according to Luber's co-authored white paper "The Blindboxification of Everything." This isn't just about sneakers and trading cards — it's about an evolution in how products capture the cultural zeitgeist.

Take Labubu, the mischievous monster gripping global markets. Its success wasn't an accident — it was the mix of culture and commerce, fueled by the "thrill of the hunt" that traditional retail is now scrambling to replicate.

Major brands like Starbucks (SBUX), Lids, and even French kitchenware company Le Creuset have already taken a page out of this collectibles playbook as they figure out how to manufacture the same level of internet-breaking buzz and consumer interest.

For investors, the investment thesis is as simple as Econ 101, per Luber. "If there's more demand for something than there is supply, that product is gonna sell for more," he said.

While mass-produced goods like Labubu can eventually be overmanufactured, the high-end trading card market has "true scarcity," Luber added, describing the hobby as a "faux financial asset."

Unlike Labubu dolls, the rarest trading cards are the most valuable. The top of the market is currently "going nuts," with six of the most expensive card sales in history occurring in just the past six months — all surpassing the $5 million mark.

To understand this shift, investors should look at StockX. Founded in 2015, StockX revolutionized the secondary market by treating consumer goods such as sneakers, trading cards, and electronics like stocks while providing real-time market pricing and authentication. StockX is a private company with a reported valuation of more than $3 billion.

Even if collectibles are becoming legitimate asset classes, a healthy dose of skepticism is warranted. Luber himself describes the industry as "nascent" and "day zero." The infrastructure is still maturing, with marketplaces and companies like Fanatics and Professional Sports Authenticator, which handles grading, only just beginning to professionalize the landscape.

Still, "you have an economy that has a ton money," with "very mature companies that understand how to grow," Luber said.

"What we're gonna see by the time we get to the end of '26 is a kind of steady state trading card industry," where the convergence of collectibles, consumer goods, and gambling becomes seamless, he added.

Investors should expect to eventually walk into an arena and buy trading cards from their seats as easily as they place a sports bet. As these "blind boxes" become a more robust industry, Luber said they demand the same level of rigorous coverage as any other asset class.

Each week, Yahoo Finance Executive Editor Brian Sozzi fields insight-filled conversations and chats with the biggest names in business and markets on Opening Bid Unfiltered. You can find more episodes on our video hub or watch on your preferred streaming service.

Francisco Velasquez is a Reporter at Yahoo Finance. Follow him on LinkedIn, X, and Instagram. Story tips? Email him at francisco.velasquez@yahooinc.com.

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